The US is seeking to regain control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, a move that has been met with resistance from the Taliban. US President Donald Trump recently stated that the base, which was abandoned by the US in 2021, is crucial for counterterrorism operations and is located just an hour away from where China produces its nuclear weapons. Trump’s demand has been rejected by the Taliban, with officials stating that Afghanistan will not hand over the base to any foreign power.

Bagram Air Base has a long history of being a strategic location, having been previously occupied by the Soviet Union and the US. The base is situated 60 kilometers north of Kabul and offers direct access to the city and Afghanistan’s main transport corridors. Its proximity to Iran, Pakistan, China, and Russia’s southern flank makes it a critical location for regional security.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 was marked by chaos, with the Taliban quickly taking control of the country. The withdrawal was part of an agreement signed between the US and the Taliban in 2020, which committed the US to pulling out its troops in exchange for the Taliban’s promise to open peace talks with the Afghan government and cut ties with terrorist groups.

Trump’s call to regain control of Bagram Air Base is seen as an attempt to overwrite the optics of the 2021 withdrawal and reassert US toughness in the region. However, the obstacles to reoccupying the base are significant, including Taliban resistance, jihadist threats, and opposition from regional powers such as China, Russia, and Iran.

The Taliban has stated that it will not hand over the base to the US, with officials citing the need to protect Afghanistan’s sovereignty and independence. The group has also warned that any attempt to retake the base would be met with resistance, including the use of suicide bombings.

The US has not provided a clear plan for how it intends to regain control of the base, and it is unclear what concessions the Taliban might demand in exchange for allowing the US to return. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the US has frozen Afghan assets and imposed sanctions on the Taliban, which has limited the group’s ability to govern the country effectively.

In the midst of these challenges, the significance of Bagram Air Base remains unchanged. The base represents a symbol of foreign domination for Afghans, while for the US, it embodies the humiliation of the 2021 withdrawal. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the US will be able to regain control of the base and what implications this might have for regional security.